Kenny Dehaes proved that he is more than just a sprinter when he made the decisive selection of four in the hard and windy Ronde van Drenthe yesterday. Confident in his fast finish, the Belgian did a long sprint to hold off Scott Thwaites for his first win of the season.

Kenny Dehaes has won the Tour of Drenthe. He was the fastest of a quartet which attacked from a large front group in the final. Because of the wind and the course it tended to be an echelon race. In the second part fifteen riders got ahead, with them Kenny Dehaes and Gert Dockx. There were also three riders of Topsport Vlaanderen in the break.

On the last ascent of the Vamberg four riders took off: Lindeman, Helven, Thwaites and also Kenny Dehaes. In the final there were no attempts to jump away anymore and the four riders battled for victory in the sprint. The chasers came close to the leaders in the last meters, but Kenny Dehaes decided to begin the sprint early. Dehaes sprinted to his first victory of the season and took the win before Thwaites and Lindeman.

Dennis Vanendert crashed and was immediately brought to hospital. First one feared for a fractured wrist. After further examination the youngest of the Vanendert brothers appeared to only have some bruises. Tomorrow morning he decides if he will start in Dwars door Drenthe or not.

"I felt good from the start," Dehaes said. "Because of the wind you always had to be attentive for echelons. We tried to set up one ourselves. Halfway the race we got in front with fifteen riders. I only had Gert Dockx there to support me, who's just come back after an illness.

"I knew beforehand that the men of Topsport Vlaanderen would try something on the last climb. Sander Helven attacked and I got in his wheel together with Lindeman and Thwaites.

"I knew that I was the fastest of the four leaders, so I had faith. Although at the end it was a bit thrilling. The chasers came very close in the last hundred meters so I decided to start the sprint early. I could keep up my speed and ride to my first win of the season."